PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 737 PRINTER'S NO. 1819
No. 706 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, HELFRICK, HOLL, FISHER, BELL, HOPPER,
RHOADES, PECORA, LOEPER, KELLEY, ROSS, ROMANELLI, SCANLON,
SMITH, EARLY, BODACK, ANDREZESKI, LLOYD, MOORE, SINGEL,
MURRAY, O'PAKE, STAPLETON, LYNCH, ZEMPRELLI AND O'CONNELL,
APRIL 22, 1981
SENATOR HESS, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 14, 1982
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for release of
6 pupils for religious instruction.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1546, act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
10 No.14), known as the "Public School Code of 1949," is amended to
11 read:
12 Section 1546. Release of Pupils for Religious Instruction.-- <--
13 (a) [Any board of school directors of any school district shall <--
14 have power to enter into suitable arrangement with a religious
15 group, or organization of responsible citizens resident in the
16 school district, who are interested in organizing part-time
17 weekday religious education for school pupils. In such cases the
18 board of school directors shall have power to adopt such rules
1 and regulations for the release from school sessions of those
2 pupils whose parents, or surviving parent, or guardian, or other
3 person having legal custody of such pupil, desires to have them
4 attend a class to receive religious education, in accordance
5 with their religious faith for not more than one hour a week,
6 subject, however, to such conditions and the keeping of such
7 records of attendance at such classes and other records for the
8 inspection of school authorities as the board shall deem proper.
9 No part of the cost and expense of such religious instruction
10 shall be paid out of public school funds.] <--
11 (b) The superintendent of the school district shall, upon <--
12 the written request of a parent or other person in loco
13 parentis, excuse any student who is the child of that parent or
14 person in loco parentis from school attendance for a total
15 period of five days OF NOT MORE THAN THIRTY-SIX HOURS (36) per <--
16 school year in order to attend classes for religious instruction
17 or religious exercises or functions: Provided, however, That the <--
18 request shall identify and describe the instruction, exercise or <--
19 function, and the dates and hours for which the absences ABSENCE <--
20 IS requested and that the parent or person in loco parentis
21 shall, following each such absence, furnish in writing to the
22 superintendent of the school district a statement attesting that
23 the child did in fact attend the instruction, exercise and <--
24 function and the dates and hours upon which such attendance took
25 place.
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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